中文
The award ceremony of the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition was held Dec. 20 in Beijing. Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), and Yu Changxue, director of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education, attended the event.
Beijing officials present included Huang Yihua, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee and the Foreign Affairs Office (Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office) of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality; Xu Xinchao, acting district mayor of Haidian district; Qi Huichao, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Haidian District Committee and head of the Publicity Department; and Ma Guangyao, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Haidian District Committee and executive deputy district mayor. British director and Oscar laureate Malcolm Clarke also attended.
Yu Yingfu, vice president of China International Communications Group, delivers a speech at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
In his speech, Yu Yingfu said the competition, while staying true to its original goal of connecting China with the world and facilitating global communication, has become a widely influential platform for sharing Chinese stories with the world. Facing new circumstances in exchanges between China and other countries, the competition will continue to focus on Chinese stories as its theme and short videos as its medium, helping the international community better understand a confident, progressive, open and inclusive China.
Yu said the competition will further illustrate China's development path, presenting the breadth, depth and warmth of Chinese modernization. He said it will encourage creators from diverse cultural backgrounds to tell stories of mutual learning among civilizations. By seizing on the trend of digital and intelligent communication, the competition aims to boost the visibility of outstanding works on major international platforms.
Yu added that the competition also seeks to foster a youth exchange community to inspire the collision of ideas and illuminate a better future, while CICG works to build the "My China Story" brand to a higher standard so that Chinese stories that resonate emotionally can reach the world and touch people's hearts.
Yu Changxue, director of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education, delivers a speech at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
In his speech, Yu Changxue stated that the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education shoulders the important mission of promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, enhancing international understanding and trust, and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
He said the center will continue to deepen its cooperation with the competition, expand its service platforms and provide more comprehensive and efficient support and services for Chinese and foreign creators.
Yu added that it will encourage more Chinese and foreign students to participate in telling Chinese stories, vividly documenting China's development journey through short videos and showcasing the unique charm of Chinese culture through creative excellence.
Xu Xinchao, acting district mayor of Haidian district, delivers a speech at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
In his speech, Xu Xinchao stated that leveraging its highly competitive locational advantages, Haidian has become a charming, vibrant and innovative region, as well as an ideal place for everyone to tell Chinese stories to the rest of the world.
He said Haidian has continuously expanded its circle of international friends, deepened global collaboration on innovation and improved the level of investment facilitation, forming development stories that are constantly told and constantly renewed and becoming a vivid and highly representative microcosm of the Chinese story.
Xu invited all friends to visit Haidian, walk around and take a look to gain a deeper and more genuine understanding of Beijing and China through the district.
Malcolm Clarke, British director and Oscar laureate, delivers a keynote presentation at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
Malcolm Clarke stated that in telling Chinese stories to the world, the key lies not in "what to tell" but in "how to tell it." People are not connected through systems and algorithms; the essence of international communication is to allow audiences to see shared emotions and experiences in stories.
He said ways of communicating have shifted toward more lifestyle-oriented forms such as social media and short videos, and ordinary individuals now possess powerful communication potential.
"We should capture the authentic details full of human warmth in social development and present more down-to-earth and genuine content. Only in this way can we achieve effective cross-cultural communication and enable the world to truly understand China," Clarke added.
Evan Kail, American vlogger, delivers a keynote presentation at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
American vlogger Evan Kail, who donated a photo album documenting Japanese war crimes during World War II to China in 2022, stated in his keynote presentation that in an era where misunderstandings spread faster than understanding, and cultures are often constrained by stereotypes, it is important to promote cultural exchange, uphold historical honesty and engage in dialogue based on respect rather than politics.
"Through education, media, and transnational cooperation, we can raise people's awareness of humanity's interdependent relationships, enhance mutual understanding, and alleviate cultural misinterpretation," he said.
Wang Xinling, general manager of Xufang International Media of CICG, introduced the basic information of this year's competition, shared representative cases of cross-cultural storytelling across various countries and discussed current communication trends on major international social media platforms.
She said the competition received a total of 45,880 entries of various types, covering 128 countries and regions and 26 languages, from which 85 outstanding works were selected.
The "Co-Plan of Global Vloggers' Content Creation on China" is launched at the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
The event also launched the "Co-Plan of Global Vloggers' Content Creation on China," an extension of the "My China Story" brand. The initiative aims to build a platform for international short video creators willing to deeply experience the warmth of China and explore the country's development.
Thematic seminars are held during the seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
The event also featured a screening of selected works and two seminars: "Short Videos plus City" and "Short Videos plus Content Creators." Attendees engaged in exchanges around themes such as "Short Videos on Urban Culture: The Key to Breaking Boundaries and Going Global" and "Rising New Voice: The Change and Growth of Global Content Creators."
Global content creators also visited the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, the Light Science and Technology Museum and other locations, gaining a deeper understanding of technological innovation practices.
The seventh "My China Story" International Short Video Competition Award Ceremony is held in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group]
This year's competition was hosted by CICG and co-organized by the People's Government of Haidian District, Beijing Municipality. It was organized by Xufang International Media of CICG (New Media Center of CICG) and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Haidian District, Beijing Municipality.
Supporting organizations included the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture at Beijing Normal University.
Attendees included representatives from the CPC Haidian District Committee and the district government, as well as relevant provincial, autonomous region, and municipal government departments, Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, content creators, enterprise representatives, media, and other guests.
The competition invites global content creators to submit China-themed short video works in multiple languages and formats. Through seven years of innovative development, it has evolved into a comprehensive new media international communication brand that integrates foreign language short video creation, annual competitions, thematic contests, video screenings, creative sharing sessions, thematic field trips and more.
Content and photos provided by Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group.
